The Main Event for the 2005 World Series of Poker
The Main Event for the World Series of Poker is what defines the
ultimate challenge in Texas No Limit Hold'Em. In 2005, 5,619
players sat down to compete for 9 days in order to get a chance
at the $7,500,000 first prize. Everyone who was lucky enough to
reach the final table became an instant millionaire. And the
total prize pool was also impressive, reaching $52,818,610
dollars! But to even have a shot at the great amounts of cash,
players had to survive the elimination rounds of the tournament.
With a field so large the competitors were split up into 3
groups, each competing on one of 3 days: Day 1A, 1B & 1C, which
were very long and brutal for some. The elimination goal was to
play down to 500 to 600 for each daily round. The first day, Day
1A, lasted 15 hours and 25 minutes for the 1,885 players who
competed in order to continue on with only 663 players surviving
that round. Day 1B began with 1,857 players stopping at 593
contestants. And Day 1C started with 1,877 entrants and ended up
with 608 after the dust settled. At this point the total field
has dropped from 5,619 to 1,864. While a lot of players had
their pocket A's cracked like eggs at the RIO's breakfast buffet
over this 3 day period, numerous others had outstanding
performances. Sam Farha, Lee Watkinson, Jim Meehan, Robert
Mizrachi and Robert Mizrachi did well. Now at this point last
year's champ Greg Raymer is holding at 469th, but you'll hear a
lot more from him before this is over.
Day 2 saw the field whittled from 1,864 to 569 and it had a lot
of activity. Within the first hour 2003 WSOP champ Chris
Moneymaker, Gus Hansen, David Sklansky and Marcel Luske were
among those leaving for good. Greg Raymer decided it was time to
play poker as he began sending people home along with raising
his standing to 9th from 469th the day before. WSOP champion Dan
Harrington who made it to the Main Event final table for the
past 2 years was eliminated. Layne Flack had an excellent day at
the ESPN table making his stack grow, even cracking pocket A's
held by other players in the process.
Day 3 was exciting because there were 569 players and the
payouts began at position 560. It was good for almost everyone
but Karl Ygborn who received no money period when he became the
"bubble boy", finishing in position 561. However, Harrah's
awarded him a free seat to the 2006 WSOP Main Event for next
year! After the bubble burst, players were leaving the tables
left and right to collect their money, evidence of the fact that
many players were drained and very tired. Raymer continued to
pound away with an effort that vaulted him to number one in the
chip count for Day 3. Other notables were Farzad Bonyadi, Phil
Ivey, Minh Ly, 1994 WSOP champ Russ Hamilton and Brad Kondracki
who has also done very well so far. At the end of this day there
were 185 players left.
Days 4 and 5 raised the bar and intensity of play with Greg
Raymer continuing to bust out players left and right. Lots of
upsets with names like Paul Darden, David Plastik, Howard
Lederer, J. C. Tran, Nani Dollison, Mike Wattel and Webber Kang
being eliminated. Incredible performances by players like
Tiffany Williamson, Brad Kondracki and Aaron Kanter will be seen
by all on ESPN. By the time Day 5 ends 11 1/2 hours later, there
are 27 players left that will continue the Main Event at
Binion's in downtown Las Vegas.
As Day 6 began at Binion's, the goal was to narrow the field
from 27 to the 9 needed for the final table. Greg Raymer's bid
to repeat a championship was ended with the titan leaving in
25th place. Everyone including the ESPN crew gave him a standing
ovation as he left the tables. Others who went out on this day
include Phil Ivey in 20th and Minh Ly in 19th. Tiffany
Williamson left in 15th and also went out with a standing
ovation. The eliminations continued until the 9 for the final
table was reached. Those players were Mike Matusow, Aaron
Kanter, Andrew Black, Joseph Hachem, Steven Dannenmann, John
Barch, Daniel Bergsdorf, Scott Lazar and Brad Kondracki. When
Day 7 began, no one knew it would be the longest final table in
WSOP history. One by one, each new millionaire left the table
after being busted out until only Steven Dannenmann and Joseph
Hachem remained. At the final table when this heads up took
place as is tradition at the WSOP, the prize money was brought
to the table with an armed guard. The amount of $100 bills took
up so much room to where it covered the entire poker table --
two feet high! Both players were tired as after 6 hands it was
over and Joseph Hachem became the WSOP champion, taking home to
Australia $7,500,000 and a beautiful diamond ring that only the
Main Event champions can receive.